Type-writing machine.



' V. B. ROUILLOT. [YPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE I8. 1914.

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Patented Dec. 14, 19115.

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VICTOR B. ROUILLOT, OF HADDONFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

nism for use on typewriting machines, and

- more particularly to a mechanism in which the ribbon is wound from one ofthe other of ribbon spools located at opposite ends of the platen, the ribbon being guided and fed over the printing line from one spool to the other. l

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical form, of ribbon mechanism for use in connection with a plurality of work-sheets or webs, each of which may.

consist of a series of forms, the forms comprising the outer or original web being torn off as the typewritten records thereon are completed.

.In carrying out the invention, the ribbon spools maybe loosely mounted on a shaft journaled on the platen frame at the rear of the platen, the spools being located beyond the ends of the platen, and the section of ribbon between the. spools being guided in a suitable frame journaled on said shaft and extending forward therefrom, so that the ribbon is guided from one spool forward to a position'in front of the-platen, thence across the platen, and rearwardly to the other spool. The ribbon guiding frame comprises a tie-rod or bar extending along the platen to connect the frame ends and also serving as a guide and a tearing blade for the work-sheets or webs.

The ribbon spools may be connected alternatively to rotate with the shaft on which they are mounted, by means of clutches, each comprising a clutch-member on a ribbon spool, and a clutch member driven by the shaft and slidable thereon into and out of engagement with the clutch member on the spool. The two sliding clutch members may be connected by a sliding frame comprising arms journaled on a spool shaft and extending forward therefrom, said arms rigidly connected by a bar extending le'ngthwise of the platen above the printing line, said' bar also forming a spacing bar and guide for the work-sheets. Finger-pieces on Specification of Letters Patent.

said sliding frame enable it to be shifted lengthwise of the platen to disconnect either spool and simultaneously connect the other spool to the drive shaft.

The ribbon-spool shaft may be intermittently rotated by the line-spacing mechanism. For this purpose a ratchet wheel is fixed to the ribbon-spool shaft and operated by a dog carried on a lever journaled on said shaft, said lever operated by the pawlcarrying slide bar of the line-spacing mechanism.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention as applied to an Underwood typewriting machine. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a ribbon-spool and clutch. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the ribbon-spoools, and indicating the path of the ribbon between the spools. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the invention. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional elevation views as indicated by the section lines 55 and 6-6 respectively. on Fig. 4.

The roller platen 1 is fixed to a platen-axle 2.journaled in the platen frame 3, said frame shiftable to upper and lower case positions in acarriage 4, as by means of arms 5, pivoted at 6 on the carriage. The platen may be rotated either by hand wheels 7 on the platen axle, or by line-spacing mechanism which comprises a line-space lever 8 on a pivot 9 on the carriage, and having an arm 10 to actuate a rearwardly sliding bar 11, to which is connected by a pivot 12, a pawl 13, co jperating with a ratchet wheel 14 fixed to the platen axle 2. When the line-space lever 8 is swung to the right, the pawl 13 moves rearwardly and rotates the wheel 14, and with it the platen. An adjustable gage 15 determines the point at which, during the movement of the pawl, the latter shall engage the ratchet wheel. A spring-actuated detent 16 operates as usual to hold the platen against accidental rotation. Ribbon-spools 17 and 18 located beyond the right and lefthand ends respectively of the platen, are

loosely mounted on a ribbon-spool driving shaft 19 parallel with the platen, and journaled in bearing plates 20 and 21 on the platen frame, said shaft being preferably above and to the rear of the platen. Secured to the ribbon-spools are clutch mem- Patented Dec. 14%, 19115.

' Application filed June 18, 1914. Serial No. 845,750.

hers 22 and 23, with which cooperate sliding clutch members 24 and 25 slidable longitudinally on the shaft 19 into and outof engagement with the clutch members 22 and 23, respectively, said sliding members connected to rotate with the shaft, as by means of pins'26 (Fig. 2) extendingthrough the clutch sleeves and having their ends slidable in longitudinal grooves 27 in the shaft. The sliding clutch members are connected to be simultaneously shifted by means of a frame comprising bracket arms 28, journaled at their rear ends on the hubs of the sliding clutch members and extending forward therefrom, the forward ends of said arms connected by a bar 29, parallel with the platen and above the printing line. The bracket arms 28 have bearings 30 on the platen axle 2. The frame carrying the shifting clutch members 24 and 25 may be shifted by means of finger-pieces 31 to connect either ribbon-spool with the driving shaft 19, which is rotated by a line-space mecha nism as hereinafter described, or may be rotated by a hand-wheel 32 fixed to the shaft 19 for winding the ribbon on either spool.

The portion of the ribbon between the spools is supported and guided on a frame jour naled on the ribbon-spool shaft 19. Said frame comprises U-shaped end pieces 33 and 34, each of which comprises a rearwardly extending arm 35 journaled on the shaft 19, and an arm '36 having an. opening 37 large enough to accommodate the clutch. Said arms position the spools on the shaft 19, and buffers 38 of leather or other suitable material, may be placed between each spool and the adjacent arm 35. The frame ends 33 and 34 may have connected thereto by means of screws 39, ribbon. supporting and guiding arms 40 extending downwardly and rearwardly beneath the ribbon spools. and provided with horizontal slots through which the ribbon is threaded. From said arms 40, the ribbon extends forward through slots 41 in guiding arms 42 depending from the frame-ends 33 and 34, and which may also .be secured by the screws 39. The loads 43 of the ribbon extending forward from the spools, are twisted from a horizontal to a vertical plane so that the lead 44 extending longitudinally of the platen over the printing line, lies in a substantially vcrti3al plane, and close to the platen. The guide arms 42 may be adjusted to regulate the distance of the ribbon from the platen by means of the slot-and-pin connection 45 of said arms with the frame ends, said arms also having a slotted connection with the clamping screws 39 to permit such adjustment. Tension devices are provided for the ribbonspools to prevent the spools from rotating too freely, and each tension device may comprise a brake shoe 46 connected by a pivot 47 to the arm 36, and overhanging the Spool.

' flange. Such shoe is tensioned by a spring '51, while said bar and the frame ends 33 and 34 connected thereto, are supported on the clutch shifting frame. The clutch shifting frame is held in position with the members of either clutch connected by means of a leaf spring 54 which may be secured to a frame end as 34, and engages notches in the under surface of the bar 51. The clutch shifting frame may be shifted by the operator grasping between his thumb and finger, a fingerpiece 31 and an adjacent finger-piece 55 on the ribbon guiding frame, and pressing them toward each other with suflici'ent force to overcome the holding power of the spring 54, so that the clutch members, as for example 23, 25, at the same end, of the machine, are brought together, the holding spring 54 at the same time snapping into the outer notch to hold the clutch in such position, the members 22, 24 of the opposite clutch by such operation being disconnected. If desired, the ribbon guiding frame 33, 34, 51 may also be shiftable along the ribbonspool shaft 19. The ribbon guiding frame and clutch shifting frame may swing about the shaft 19 from their normal position, upwardly and rear-wardly, to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 6, being supported in this position by the finger pieces 55 resting on the head 50 of the inclined paper shelf 57 which forms a part of the platen frame.

The mechanism for feeding the ribbon when the line-space lever is operated, comprises a ratchet wheel 58 fixed to the shaft 19, and rotated by a. dog59 pivoted at 60 on a lever 61 journaled on the shaft 19, the lower end of said lever formed with a slot 62 to engage a pin 63 on the slide 11 which carries the line-space pawl. When thelinespace lever is operated to rotate the platen, the pin 63 swings the lever 61 and causes the dog 59 to drive the ratchet wheel 58, the shaft 19 thereby rotating whichever ribbonspool is clutched to said shaft. The lever (31 and the line-space lever 8 are returned by a spring (34, connected at its ends to the platen frame and the slide 13 respectively. Backward rotation of the ratchet wheel 58 is prevented by a locking dog (35 held against the ratchet Wheel 58 by a spring 66. The pawl spring 67.

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inner bar 29 and the platen. The worksheets are sufiiciently spaced by the bar 29 to prevent them from binding on the ribbon, so that the latter will not be dragged up- :wardto any extent when the work-sheets are fed or pulled forward. The arrangement is well adapted for feeding continuous webs which may consist of a series of printed forms to receive the typewritten matter, the forms of the outer or original sheet or web being severed as the typewritten matter thereon is completed, while the duplicate forms comprising the inner web 69 remain intact. The bar 51 provides a tearing edge for severing the typewritten forms or sections from the outer web.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of ribbon spools located near the ends of the platen, a spool-driving shaft, clutches for alternatively connecting the spools to the driving shaft, a clutchshifting device shiftable to connect either spool to the driving shaft and concomitantly disconnect the other spool from the driving shaft, line-spacing mechanism to rotate the platen, and means operated by said mechanism to rotate the spool-driving shaft.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of ribbon spools located near the ends of the platen, a spool-driving shaft, clutches for alternatively connecting the spools to the driving shaft, .a clutchshifting device shiftable to connect either spool to the driving shaft and concomitantly disconnect the other spool from the driving shaft, line-spacing mechanism to rotate the platen, and means operated by said mechanism to rotate the spool-driving shaft; said clutch-shifting device comprising a guide bar extending along the platen and forming a guide for work pieces on the platen.

' 3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of ribbon spools located beyond the ends of the platen, a ribbon-' spool winding shaft on which said spools are loosely mounted, clutches comp-rising clutch members on the spools and clutch members shiftable along the said winding shaft into and out of engagement with the clutch members on the spools, and a frame for shifting said shift-able members, said frame comprising a bar extending along the platen and forming a guide-bar for work pieces on the platen.

4:. In a. typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of a ribbon-spool driving shaft located at the rear of the platen and extending parallel therewith, ribbon spools loosely mounted on said shaft near the ends of the platen, a frame on which the ribbon is guided from the spools forward to the front of the platen and along the platen over the printing line, clutches each comprising a member secured to a ribbon spool and a member shiftable on the spool-driving shaft, a clutch-shifting frame comprising arms connected to said shiftable clutch members and'extending forwardly to the front of the platen and a bar connecting said arms and forming a spacing-bar for work pieces on the platen, said shifting frame having a slidable connection with the ribbon-guiding frame and shiftable to alternatively connect the ribbon spools to be driven by said shaft, and means to rotate said shaft.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of a ribbonspool driving shaft located at the rear of the platen and extending parallel therewith, ribbon spools loosely mounted on said shaft near the ends of the platen, a frame on which the ribbon is guided from the spools forward to the front of the platen and along the platen over the printing line, clutches each comprising a member secured to a ribbon spool and a member shiftable on the spool-driving shaft, a clutch-shifting frame comprising arms connected to said shiftable clutch members and extending forwardly to the front of the platen and a bar connecting said arms and forming a spacing-bar for work pieces on the platen, said shifting frame having a slidable connection with the ribbon-guiding frame and shiftable to alternatively connect the ribbon spools to be driven by said shaft,'line-space mechanism to rotate the platen, a ratchet wheel fixed to the ribbon-driving shaft, a dog to drive said ratchet wheel, and connections between the line-space mechanism and said dog to actuate the latter.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a ribbon spoolwinding shaft located at the rear of the platen and extending parallel therewith,

ribbon spools mounted on said shaft, a ribbon-guiding frame to guide a ribbon between said spools and along the platen, said frame mounted to swing on said shaft, clutches for connecting said spools alternatively-to the spool-winding shaft, and a clutch-shifting frame also mounted to swing on said shaft and shiftable thereon to shift members of said clutches, said shifting frame connected to the ribbon-guiding frame and mounted to swing therewith and carry the ribbon upwardly and rearwardly to a position behind the platen.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a ribbon spool-winding shaft located at the rear of the platen and extending parallel therewith, ribbon spools mounted on said vshaft, means to guide a ribbon between said spools and along the platen, clutches for connecting said spools alternatively to the s ool-winding shaft, and a clutch-shifting ralne connected to members of said clutches and comprising arms supported on the platen axle, said shifting frame connected to the ribbonguiding means and mounted to swing therewith and carry the ribbon upwardly and.

rearwardly to a position behind the platen.

8. Ina typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of a ribbonwinding shaft located at the rear of the platen, ribbon spools thereon, clutchesfor connectin said spools alternatively to the said windlng shaft, a ribbon-guiding frame for guiding the ribbon between the spools and along the printing line at the front of the platen, and a clutch-shifting frame having a sliding connection with said r bbonguiding frame and shiftable therewith to carry the ribbon to a position beyond the printing line.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of a ribbon- Winding shaft located at the rear of the platen, ribbon spools thereon, clutches for connectin said spools alternatively to the said winding shaft, a ribbon-guiding frame" for guiding the ribbon between the spools and along the printing line at the front of the platen, and a clutc shifting frame having a sliding connection with said ribbonguiding frame and shiftable therewith to carl'ythe-ribbon to a position beyond the printing line; said clutch-shifting frame and ribbon-guiding frame comprising guide bars extending parallel with the platen in position to guide work pieces on the platen.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combi-' nation with a roller platen, of a ribbonwinding shaft located at the rear of the platen, ribbon spools thereon, clutches for connecting said spools alternatively to the said winding shaft, a ribbon-guiding frame for guiding the ribbon between the spools and along the printing line at the front of the platen, and a clutch-shifting frame having a sliding connection with said ribbonguiding frame and shiftable therewith to carry the ribbon to a position beyond the printing line; said clutch-shifting frame and ribbon-guiding frame comprising guide bars extending parallel with the platen in position to guide work pieces on the platen; said bars spaced to permit the outer work piece to pass between the bars, the outer bar having a tearing edge for severing portions from the outer work piece. i

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of ribbon spools located near the ends of the platen, a drive shaft on which the spools are mounted, and a frame for guiding a ribbon between said spools and along the printin line, said frame mounted to swing on sai shaft as an axis to carry the ribbon upwardly and rearwardly to a point beyond the printing line. 12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, ofribbon spools located adjacent the ends ofthe platen, and a guiding frame in which the ribbon is guided between the spools and along the printing line, said frame comprising a tearing blade extending along the platen above the printing line, said frame mounted to swing about the axes of said spools and carry the ribbon and tearing blade away from the platen.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of ribbon spools located adjacent the ends of the platen and mounted for rotation about an axis eccentrio of the'platen-axis, and a guiding frame 4 in which the ribbon is guided betweenthe spools and along the printing line, said frame comprising a tearing blade extending along the platen above the printing line, said frame mounted to swing upwardly and rearwardly about the axis of said spools to carry the blade and ribbon upwardly and rearwardly beyond the platen."

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of a ribbon spool-winding shaft, ribbon spools mounted upwardly and rearwardly to carry the rib-- bon to a point beyond the printing line.

1,5. In a typewriting machine, the combi natlon with a roller platen, of ribbon spools adjacent the ends ofthe platen, a ribbon extending along the printing line and having its ends wound on said spools, spool-winding mechanism, a clutch associated with each spool for connecting it to said winding mechanism, a clutch-shifting frame, and a ribbon-guiding frame, said frames comprising guide bars extending longitudinally of the platen, said bars forming guides for the work pieces. i

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of ribbon spools adjacent the ends of the platen, a ribbon extending along the printing line and having itsends wound on said spools, spool-winding mechanism, a clutch associated with each spool for connecting it to said winding mechanism, a clutch-shifting frame, anda ribbon-guiding frame, said frames comprising. guide bars extending longitudinally of the platen, said bars forming guides for th work pieces; said frames relatively shiftable in a direction parallel with the platen axis to clutch either spool with the said winding mechanism and simultaneously disconnect the other spool.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of ribbon spools adjacent the ends of the platen, a ribbon extending along the printing line and having its ends wound on said spools, spool-winding mechanism, a clutch associated with each spool for connecting it to said winding mechanism, a clutch-shifting frame, and a ribbon-guiding frame, said frames comprising guide bars extending longitudinally of the platen, said bars forming guides for the work pieces; said frames relatively shiftable in a direction parallel with the platen axis to clutch either spool with the said winding mechanism and simultaneously disconnect the other spool; said frames being interconnected and mounted to swing to carry said guide bars and the ribbon upwardly and rearwardly beyond the printing line.

18. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of ribbon spools, means to drive said spools, clutches to alternatively connect the spools to the driving means, and a clutch-shifting device comprising a bar extending along the platen and forming a guide for the work pieces.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of ribbon spools located near the ends of the platen, means to guide the ribbon from one spool along the platen over the printing line and ontothe other spool, a spool-Winding shaft, said ribbon-guiding means mounted to swing about said shaft as an axis to carry the ribbon away from the platen, a ratchet wheel fixed to said shaft, line-spacing mechanism comprising a line-space lever, a dog to drive said ratchet wheel, and a driving connection between the line-space lever and said dog.

20. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of a ribbon-spool driving shaft located at the rear of the platen and extending parallel therewith, ribbon spools loosely mounted on said shaft near the ends of the platen, a frame onwhich the ribbon is guided from the spools forward to the front of the platen and along the platen over theprinting line,

" clutches each comprising a member secured to a ribbon spool and a member shiftable on the spool-driving shaft, a clutch-shifting frame comprising arms connected to said shiftable clutch members and extending forwardly to the front of the platen and a bar conpecting said arms, said shifting frame having a slidable connection with the ribbon-guiding frame, said frames mounted to swing upwardly and rearwardly about the spool-driving shaft, and means to rotate said shaft.

21. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, :of' ribbon spools located beyond the ends of the platen, a spool-winding shaft, a ribbon-guiding frame by which the ribbon is guided from the spools to the platen and lengthwise of the platen over the printing line, clutches comprising clutch parts connected to the spools and clutch parts separate from the spools and connected to rotate with said shaft, and a frame connecting said clutch parts, said frames relatively shiftable in the direction of said shaft for relatively shifting the clutch parts to alternatively connect the ribbon spools with the shaft.

' 2,2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of ribbon spools located beyond the ends of the platen, a spool-wmdmg shaft, a ribbon-guiding frame by which the ribbon is guided from the spools to the platen and lengthwise of the platen over the printing line, clutches comprising clutch parts connected to the spools and clutch parts separate from the spools and connected to rotate with said shaft, and a frame connecting said clutch parts, said frames relatively shiftable in the direction of said shaft for relatively shifting the clutch parts to alternatively connect the ribbon spools with the shaft, said frames each COIIIPIlSlIlg means connecting the ends of the respective frames and extending along the platen to guide work-pieces fed around the platen, said frames arranged to swing about said shaft as an axis, and thereby carry said guiding means away from the platen.

23. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen frame and a platen thereon, of a ribbon spool-driving shaft ournaled on the platen frame, a swinging frame comprising frame ends each of which is formed with bearings on said drive shaft, said shaft located at the rear of the platen and said frame ends extending forwardly from the shaft, a work-piece-guiding bar extending along the front of the platen and connecting said frame ends, said frame ends comprising means for guiding a ribbon extending forwardly from the spools and between said frame ends along the platen over the printing line, means for alternatively connecting the'spools to said drive shaft, and means to drive said shaft.

24:. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen frame and a platen thereon, of a ribbon spool-driving shaft journaled on the platen frame, a swinging frame comprising frame ends each of which is formed with bearings on said drive shaft, said shaft located at the rear of the platen and said frame ends extending forwardly from the shaft, a workpiece-guiding bar extending along the front of the platen and connecting said frame ends, said frame ends comprising means for guiding a ribbon extending forwardly from the spools and be tween said frame ends along the platen over the printing line, clutches for connecting the ribbon spools to the drive shaft, and a clutch-shifting frame comprising frame ends and a connecting bar extending therebetween and cooperating with said firstmentioned bar in spacing and guiding the work-pieces, said frames interconnected to permit relative shifting thereof in a direction lengthwise of the platen for operating the clutches, saidframes arranged to swing about the drivingshaft to carry said bars and ribbon upwardly and rearwardly away from the platen.

25. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen frame and a platen journaled thereon, of a ribbon spool-driving shaft, ribbon spools thereon adjacent the ends of the platen, a swingingframe comprising frame ends journaled on said shaft and extending forwardly therefrom above the platen, arms. depending from the forward ends of said frames and provided with means for supporting and guiding a ribbon having leads extending from the ribbon spools to said arms and extending between said arms along the face .of theplaten over the printing line, and means for adjusting said depending arms in the frame ends to adjust the ribbon toward or from the platen,

said swinging frame being arranged to swing about said driving shaft asan axis to carry the ribbon upwardly and rearwardly beyond the platen. v

26. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen frame and a platenjournaled thereon, of a-ribbon spool-driving shaft, ribbon spools thereon adjacent the ends of the platen, a swinging frame comprising frame ends journaled on saidshaft and extending forwardly therefrom above the platen, arms depending from the for- Ward ends of said frames and provided with means for supporting and guiding a ribbon having leads extending from the ribbon spools to said arms and extending between said arms along the face of the platen over the printing line, and means for adjusting said depending arms in the frame ends to adjust the ribbon toward or from the platen,

' said swinging frame being arranged to swing about said driving shaft as an axis to carry the ribbon upwardly and rearwardly --yieldingly hold the frames in beyond the platen, said swinging frame also comprising a connecting bar extending be tween said depending arms, said bar located at the printing line-and forming a guide for I -and a clutch part separate from the ribbon .spool, a clutch-shifting frame comprising arms journaled on said shaft and connected to sald last-mentioned clutch parts, said clutch-shifting frame connected with said swinging frame and relatively shiftable lengthwise of said shaft to operate the clutches for alternatively connecting the ribbon spools to the drive shaft, adjacent finger-pieces connected to said swinging frame and said clutch-shifting frame, whereby a relative shifting of the frames for connectin either spool to the drive shaft may be e ected by pressing said finger-pieces toward each other, and a spring detent to either rela tive position.

28. In a typewriting machine, the combi-* nation with a platen, of ribbon spools located near the 'ends of the platen, means to guide a ribbon'fromthe spools to the printing face of the platen and lengthwise of the platen over the printing line, a spool-driv ing shaft, clutches for alternatively connect- I ing the spools to the shaft, a clutch-shifting device shiftable to connect either spool to the shaft and concomitantly disconnect the other spool from the shaft, friction brakes applied to said spools to prevent them from rotating too freely while disconnected from the shaft, and means to adjust the tension of said brakes.

' VICTOR B. ROUILLOT. Witnesses: Eu 0. ANDERSON,

WILLIAM A. HAR'rNn'rr. 

